Avoca railway line
| Avoca railway line, Victoria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Line details | |
| Opened | 1874 |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Closed | 2005 |
| Fate | Freight only line |
| Length | 87.769 km (54.537 mi) |
| Stations | 4 |
| Tracks | Single track |
| Rolling stock | Ballast, Grain |
| Rail transport in Victoria | |
The Maryborough - Avoca - Ararat railway is a railway line in western Victoria, Australia. It is one of the few railway lines in the state to have been closed and then reopened. Today it is a standard gauge branch line connecting the Western SG with Bung Bong (ballast) and Dunolly (grain), running through Maryborough station.
History
The first section of line was opened as a branch from Maryborough to Avoca in October 1874, 24 kilometres in length, then was extended 62.8 kilometres to Ararat in November 1890, forming a through route between two main lines. In July 1959 the line between Avoca and Ararat was closed.[1] In October 1966 the line was reopened,[1] and in 1996 it was converted to standard gauge, along with the main Melbourne-Adelaide railway.[2]
The Avoca - Ararat section of the line has been unused for a number of years and Pacific National used it to store over 100 surplus grain wagons,[3] until many of them were reactivated to carry the 2011-2012 harvest.
Line guide
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Legend
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References
Further reading
- Keith W. Turton and D.C. McLean (1972). The Maryborough-Avoca-Ararat railway : a brief history. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division).